Ricardo Andres Nieves, MD| Cardiology | MedStar Health
About me
Ricardo Nieves, MD, is a cardiologist at MedStar Washington Hospital Center and MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. As a general cardiologist, he treats patients with a wide range of cardiovascular disorders, utilizing traditional and advanced cardiology methods like stress testing, coronary CTA, and cardiac MRI. He is board-certified in internal medicine, echocardiography, cardiovascular disease, and cardiac MRI.
His treatment approach is patient-centered and holistic. Passionate about helping people improve their health while considering their lifestyle and the social determinants that influence their access to care, he works closely with his patients to develop a care plan that aligns with their personal goals and values. He promotes lifestyle changes, such as smoking cessation, to improve cardiovascular health.
Dr. Nieves specializes in utilizing cardiac MRI imaging technology to better diagnose, treat, and understand heart diseases such as infiltrative cardiomyopathies and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, among other processes. He is also excited about the future of 4D cardiac MRI imaging, a technology that allows cardiologists to evaluate blood flow in the heart in real-time while simultaneously evaluating the structure of the heart.
Dr. Nieves completed his medical degree at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. He went on to complete his residency, internship, and two fellowship programs at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
In his career, Dr. Nieves has received several awards and honors, including the Galal M. Ziady Memorial Award for his commitment to the underserved and the UPMC Excellence in Research Award. He is a member of the American College of Cardiology, the American Heart Association, the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology, and Alpha Omega Alpha.
Dr. Nieves speaks fluent Spanish. When he is not working with patients, he likes to play guitar, row, exercise, and spend time with his family.
Philosophy of Care
“My philosophy of care is simple: the patient comes first. It is important to me to focus on someone’s goals and fully understand where they are coming from. I believe that knowledge is power and that the more you know, the better equipped you are to take care of yourself and your health. When I sit and talk with patients, I am seeking to understand where they are coming from and how I can meet them there with information regarding their health.
Clinical areas of focus
- Angiogram
- Angioplasty
- Atrial Flutter
- Cardiac Catheterization
- Cardiac Catheterization Interpretation
- Cardiac Sudden Death
- Cardiomyopathy
- Chest Pain
- Coronary Artery Disease
- Electrocardiogram
- Heart Disease
- Heart Murmur
- High Cholesterol Management
- Holter Monitoring
- Hypertension
- Hypertension Treatment
- Ischemic Cardiomyopathy
- Lymphedema
- Stress Echocardiography
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abnormal Body Structure Imaging
- Abnormal Breathing
- Abnormal Electrocardiogram
- Abnormal Function Study Results
- Abnormal Heart Rhythm
- Acute Bacterial Endocarditis
- Acute Coronary Syndrome
- Acute Endocarditis
- Acute Ischemic Heart Diseases
- Acute Myocardial Infarction
- Advanced Heart Failure
- Advanced Heart Failure (ADHF)
- Advanced Heart Failure (AHF)
- Advanced Heart Failure Care
- Amyloidosis
- Angina
- Angina Pectoris
- Aortic Aneurysm
- Aortic Regurgitation
- Aortic Stenosis
- Aortic Valve Regurgitation
- Artery Disorders
- Atherosclerosis
- Atherosclerosis Of Aorta
- Atrial Fibrillation
- Atrial Flutter
- Atrioventricular Block
- Benign Neoplasm Of Intrathoracic Organs
- Bicuspid Aortic Valve
- Bradycardia
- Bundle Branch Block
- Cardiac Arrest
- Cardiac Arrhythmias
- Cardiac Conduction Disorders
- Cardiac Murmurs
- Cardiac Sudden Death
- Cardiomyopathy
- Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia
- Cellulitis
- Chest Pain
- Chronic Kidney Disease
- Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension
- Circulatory System Complications
- Circulatory System Disorders
- Clotting Disorders
- Complications Of Cardiac And Vascular Prosthetic Devices
- Complications Of The Puerperium
- Complications Of Transplanted Organs And Tissue
- Congenital Heart Valve Defects
- Congenital Malformation Syndromes Affecting Multiple Systems
- Congenital Malformations Of Great Arteries
- Congenital Malformations Of Great Veins
- Congenital Malformations Of Heart
- Congenital Malformations Of Pulmonary And Tricuspid Valves
- Congenital Malformations Of Trachea And Bronchus
- Coronary Artery Disease
- Deep Vein Thrombosis
- Disorders Of Lipoprotein Metabolism And Lipidemias
- Dyspnea On Exertion
- Eisenmenger Syndrome
- Electrical Conduction Disorders
- Fibromuscular Dysplasia
- Heart Block
- Heart Disease
- Heart Disease In Women
- Heart Murmur
- High Blood Pressure
- High Cholesterol Management
- Hypertension
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
- Hypotension
- Interstitial Lung Disease
- Intracranial Aneurysm
- Ischemic Cardiomyopathy
- Ischemic Heart Disease
- Kawasaki Disease
- Left Ventricular Hypertrophy
- Liver Enzyme Abnormalities
- Liver Injury
- Long Term Drug Therapy
- Lymphangitis
- Lymphedema
- Mitral Regurgitation
- Mitral Valve Disease
- Mitral Valve Prolapse
- Mitral Valve Stenosis
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Myocardial Infarction
- Myocarditis
- Nervous And Musculoskeletal Symptoms
- Nonrheumatic Mitral Valve Disease
- Obesity
- Pain In Throat And Chest
- Palpitations
- Paroxysmal Ventricular Tachycardia
- Patent Ductus Arteriosus
- Patent Foramen Ovale
- Pericardium Diseases
- Peripheral Artery Disease
- Peripheral Vascular Diseases
- Precerebral Artery Occlusion
- Premature Atrial Contraction
- Premature Atrial Contractions
- Premature Atrial Contractions (PACS)
- Premature Ventricular Contractions
- Presence Of Cardiac And Vascular Implants
- Problems Related To Lifestyle
- Pulmonary Edema
- Pulmonary Embolism
- Pulmonary Heart Disease
- Pulmonary Valve Disorders
- Renal Artery Thrombosis
- Restrictive Cardiomyopathy
- Rheumatic Heart Disease
- Rheumatic Heart Diseases
- Rheumatic Tricuspid Valve Disease
- Sarcoidosis
- Secondary Hypertension
- Shock
- Sick Sinus Syndrome
- Single Ventricle Heart Defects
- Sleep Disorders
- Subcortical Infarction
- Superficial Thrombophlebitis
- Supraventricular Tachycardia
- Swelling In Legs
- Syncope
- Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
- Tachycardia
- Thoracic Aortic Dissection
- Thyrotoxic Crisis
- Transient Cerebral Ischemic Attacks
- Transplanted Organ And Tissue Status
- Tricuspid Stenosis
- Valve Disease With Congestive Heart Failure
- Vasculitis
- Venous Embolism
- Venous Thromboembolism
- Ventricular Aneurysm
- Ventricular Fibrillation
- Ventricular Tachycardia
Procedures I perform
- Ablation Therapy
- Angiogram
- Angioplasty
- Aortic Valve Repair
- Aortic Valve Surgery
- Atrial Fibrillation Ablation
- Atrial Septal Defect Repair
- Blood Pressure Monitoring
- Cardiac Catheterization
- Cardiac Catheterization Interpretation
- Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- Cardiac Output Assistance
- Cardiac Ultrasound
- Cardiovascular Stress Testing
- Cardioversion
- Carotid Artery Aneurysm Repair
- Carotid Intima-Media Thickness Test
- Computerized Tomography (CT) Scan
- Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting
- Coronary Artery Disease Treatment
- Duplex Scan Of Extremity Veins
- Electrocardiogram
- Electrophysiology Study
- External Electrocardiographic Recording
- Heart Failure Treatment
- Heart Pacemaker Implantation
- Heart Transplant
- Heart Ultrasonography
- High Cholesterol Management
- Holter Monitoring
- Hypertension Treatment
- Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD) Implantation
- Intravascular Ultrasound
- Kinesiology Analysis
- Leadless Pacemaker Insertion
- Lymphedema
- Mesenteric Angiography
- MRA With Contrast
- Myocardial Perfusion Imaging
- Nuclear Stress Test
- Palpitation Treatment
- Peripheral Venous Access
- Permanent Pacemaker Insertion
- Popliteal Artery Entrapment Syndrome Treatment
- Prostate Injury Treatment
- Pulmonary Artery Stenosis Repair
- Stress Echocardiography
- Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT) Ablation
- Syncope Treatment
- Transesophageal Echocardiography
- Transthoracic Echocardiogram With Strain Imaging
- Transthoracic Echocardiography
- Vasopressor Administration
- Ventricular Restoration
- Ventricular Tachycardia Ablation
Insurance
MedStar Health accepts most major health insurance plans. If you are uncertain as to whether your individual health insurance plan is accepted at MedStar Health, please call your insurance company.
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List of insurance plans we accept
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Choice POS II
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- First Health PPO
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Choice Fund PPO
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- UHC Passport
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Administrators
- Network OA
- Medicare Direct
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- United Healthcare Choice
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- CareFirst EPO
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Navigate
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- IH-EPO Plus
- TRICARE East Prime
- IH-Open POS Plus
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- First Health PPO
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- IH-POS Plus
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Aetna Basic
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- POS OA
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- IH-Open HMO
- IH-PPO
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- IH-Indemnity
- IH-Open POS II
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Core Essential (HMO)
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- HumanaChoice PPO
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Beech Street PPO
- CareFirst NASCO
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Aetna VA Exchange
- IH-POS
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Tricare Reserve Select
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Employee Health Plan
- Sentara Health
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- OA Plus
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Medicare FFS
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Blue Choice Advantage
- CIGNA EPO
- TRICARE East Select
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Aetna HMO
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- HighMark
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- IH-HMO
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- CIGNA Indemnity
- TRICARE for Life East
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Optimum Choice
- HealthyBlue PPO
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Choice POS
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- United Student Resources
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- CIGNA PPO
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- IH-Open EPO Plus
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine
Fellowship: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (2023)
Fellowship: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (2022)
Residency: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (2019)
Medical School: University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine (2016)